VersaVision

What Casting Directors See That Actors Don't:

Sunday Boling Kennedy Reveals Tips and Truths

This week on Versa Vision, award-winning casting director Sunday Boling Kennedy joins us for an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about what really happens inside the casting room.

As a partner at Morman Boling Casting, Sunday has helped discover extraordinary talent and build unforgettable casts for independent films and acclaimed productions that have captivated audiences around the world.

In this episode, she shares the lessons she's learned from years of identifying exceptional performers, adapting to an industry transformed by self-tapes and virtual auditions, and making the difficult decisions that ultimately determine who books the role.

Together, we explore the opportunities that independent film offers today's actors, the misconceptions performers have about the casting process, and the qualities that consistently make talent stand out. Sunday also provides practical insights that actors can apply immediately to elevate their auditions and approach every opportunity with greater confidence.

Whether you're an actor looking for an edge, a filmmaker interested in the art of casting, or simply fascinated by how unforgettable performances come to life, this candid conversation is filled with industry wisdom you won't hear anywhere else.

Download this episode now and discover what happens after you press "submit." 

If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision and join us as we bring you the industry's leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, and filmmakers—sharing the real-world insights, experiences, and advice that can help take your career to the next level. Your support helps us continue creating these conversations.

Biography:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1553275/ 

Sunday Boling Kennedy is an award-winning casting director and partner at Morman Boling Casting. She began her career in the casting office at 20th Century Fox and launched her own company in 2004 with Meg Morman. She has cast over 100 films, including A Simple Machine (winner of 2025 Heartland International Film Festival and 2025 Lighthouse International Film Festival ,Omaha (premiered Sundance 2025, releasied April 2026), Green and Gold, Day of Reckoning, Waitress, Hello, My Name is Doris, Aporia, The Ballad of Lefty Brown, The Hyperions, and Unlovable.  TV and streaming credits include: The Promised Land, The Baxters, Sneakerheads, Ish Hashuv Meod, The Dead Girls Detective Agency, In the Vaultand Relationship Status. She has also cast numerous award-winning narrative podcasts - a few select credits include Blackout, Ad Lucem, Havoc Town, The Hookup, Last Known Position and Ronstadt. She has been nominated for 13 Artios Awards for excellence in casting and won twice. She served on the board of the Casting Society for four years as Vice-President of Governance. She is currently the Co-president for Casting Society Cares.

Thank you to our team: 

Producer:  Devyn Arnold

Intro: Tamika Katon-Donegal

ACTOR, DIRECTOR, WRITER AND PRODUCER NICKI MICHEAUX 

GUIDES US INTO "LET'S DO THIS"

On the latest episode, we're joined by actor, director, writer, producer and industry powerhouse Nicki Micheaux whose credits include Lincoln Heights, which earned her two NAACP Image Awards nominations, NYPD Blue, The Shield, Shameless, Their Eyes Were Watching God alongside Halle Berry, and the upcoming project The Drop.

She has built a remarkable career spanning more than three decades in the entertainment industry. In this episode, she shares the lessons she's learned from a lifetime in front of the camera, why she stopped waiting for opportunities and started creating them herself, and what it took to make the leap into directing with her award-winning feature film Summer of Violence.  Learn why she ultimately stopped waiting for opportunities and started creating them herself.

If you've ever wondered how to build a lasting career, reinvent yourself, and take ownership of your creative journey, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Nicki's Word of the Week:  Mindset

Download this episode now and discover what happens after you press "submit." 

If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision and join us as we bring you the industry's leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, and filmmakers—sharing the real-world insights, experiences, and advice that can help take your career to the next level. Your support helps us continue creating these conversations.

ACTOR, DIRECTOR, WRITER AND PRODUCER NICKI MICHEAUX 

SHOWS US THE WAY

On the latest episode, we're joined by actor, director, writer, producer and industry powerhouse Nicki Micheaux whose credits include Lincoln Heights, which earned her two NAACP Image Awards nominations, NYPD Blue, The Shield, Shameless, Their Eyes Were Watching God alongside Halle Berry, and the upcoming project The Drop.

She has built a remarkable career spanning more than three decades in the entertainment industry. In this episode, she shares the lessons she's learned from a lifetime in front of the camera, why she stopped waiting for opportunities and started creating them herself, and what it took to make the leap into directing with her award-winning feature film Summer of Violence.  Learn why she ultimately stopped waiting for opportunities and started creating them herself.

If you've ever wondered how to build a lasting career, reinvent yourself, and take ownership of your creative journey, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Nicki's Word of the Week:  mindset

Meet Darren Darnborough, who makes it all happen, all at once!

This week on VersaVision, we sit down with Darren Darnborough, an actor, producer and entrepreneur, and the mind behind WeAudition and VertiCast. You've seen him on Marshals, 2 Broke Girls, True Blood, Magnum P.I. and Days of Our Lives, but Darren's story goes far deeper than the credits.

Darren gets candid about the very real frustrations actors still face today, the industry gaps that nobody was fixing, and why he decided to stop waiting and start building. We dig into how stepping into the producer's chair completely transformed his approach to acting and auditions, and why every performer needs to understand that shift. WeAudition is the game-changing APP where actors can instantly connect with a live, professional scene partner 24/7,  whether you're prepping an audition, running lines, or recording a self-tape. No waiting, no scheduling:  just instant on-demand readers, available around the clock, used by close to 100,000 professional actors worldwide

Plus, we pull back the curtain on the future of vertical storytelling, where the industry is heading at breakneck speed, and what you, as an actor or creative, need to do right now to stay ahead of the curve.

Darren's Word of the Week:  PATIENCE

Download this episode now and discover what happens after you press "submit." 

If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision wherever you listen to podcasts, and join us as we bring you the industry's leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, and filmmakers—sharing the real-world insights, experiences, and advice that can help take your career to the next level. Your support helps us continue creating these conversations.

IN THIS EPISODE, GET TO KNOW THE FAST-MOVING VERTICAL AND MICRODRAMA WORLD

This week on VersaVision, we sit down with GoodShort's Anthony Lien,  actor, producer, and casting director, for a behind-the-scenes look at one of the fastest-growing sectors of the entertainment industry. Anthony shares his journey from actor to casting director, what he's learned working on the front lines of vertical storytelling, and how the opportunities available to actors today are changing. Anthony shares insight on how casting is looking for in this emerging space, common mistakes actors make, and how performers can position themselves to take advantage of a rapidly evolving industry that is now firmly establishing itself as a new genre and it's own eco-structure.  

Anthony's Words for the week:  Be Curious and Do Your Homework

Download this episode now and discover what happens after you press "submit." 

If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision wherever you listen to podcasts, and join us as we bring you the industry's leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, and filmmakers—sharing the real-world insights, experiences, and advice that can help take your career to the next level. Your support helps us continue creating these conversations.

This week on VersaVision, we sit down with GoodShort's Anthony Lien - actor, producer, and casting director for  - for a behind-the-scenes look at one of the fastest-growing sectors of the entertainment industry. Anthony shares his journey from actor to casting director, what he's learned working on the front lines of vertical storytelling, and how the opportunities available to actors today are changing. Anthony shares insight on how casting is looking for in this emerging space, common mistakes actors make, and how performers can position themselves to take advantage of a rapidly evolving industry that is now firmly establishing itself as a new genre and it's own eco-structure.

Anthony's Words for the week are:  Be Curious and Do Your Homework

Download this episode now and discover what happens after you press "submit." 

If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision wherever you listen to podcasts, and join us as we bring you the industry's leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, and filmmakers—sharing the real-world insights, experiences, and advice that can help take your career to the next level. Your support helps us continue creating these conversations.

This week on VersaVision, we sit down with Darren Darnborough, an actor, producer and entrepreneur, and the mind behind WeAudition and VertiCast. You've seen him on Marshals, 2 Broke Girls, True Blood, Magnum P.I. and Days of Our Lives, but Darren's story goes far deeper than the credits.

Darren gets candid about the very real frustrations actors still face today, the industry gaps that nobody was fixing, and why he decided to stop waiting and start building. We dig into how stepping into the producer's chair completely transformed his approach to acting and auditions, and why every performer needs to understand that shift. WeAudition is the game-changing APP where actors can instantly connect with a live, professional scene partner 24/7,  whether you're prepping an audition, running lines, or recording a self-tape. No waiting, no scheduling:  just instant on-demand readers, available around the clock, used by close to 100,000 professional actors worldwide

Plus, we pull back the curtain on the future of vertical storytelling, where the industry is heading at breakneck speed, and what you, as an actor or creative, need to do right now to stay ahead of the curve.

Darren's word of the week:  PATIENCE

Download this episode now and discover what happens after you press "submit." 

If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision wherever you listen to podcasts, and join us as we bring you the industry's leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, and filmmakers—sharing the real-world insights, experiences, and advice that can help take your career to the next level. Your support helps us continue creating these conversations.

HOW TO GET THE FASTEST "YES" FROM CASTING

WITH CASTING DIRECTOR MICHAEL SANFORD 

This week on VersaVision, award-winning Casting Director Michael Sanford - founder of Sanford Casting and the casting director behind more than 2,000 commercial campaigns and projects including the Oscar-winning film The Artist - joins us for an inside look at what gets actors the fastest “yes” from casting. Michael shares unforgettable audition stories, self tape mistakes actors don’t realize they’re making, and the subtle qualities that make casting want to bring actors back again and again. If you’ve ever wondered what makes casting say yes immediately - or what gets actors passed on just as quickly - this episode is for you!

Word of the Week:  Patience

Download this episode now and discover what happens after you press "submit." 

If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision wherever you listen to podcasts, and join us as we bring you the industry's leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, and filmmakers—sharing the real-world insights, experiences, and advice that can help take your career to the next level. Your support helps us continue creating these conversations.

Host Versa Manos welcomes Jaime Love, talent agent and owner of Love Talent Agency, a boutique agency representing talent across commercial, theatrical, print, and entertainment. Jaime began her career in Toronto, overseeing print campaigns and television commercials before transitioning into talent representation. Following years of working with major brands and high-profile talent like Demi Lovato, Mario Lopez and The Kardashians she returned to her true passion: developing talent careers. After co-founding a successful Los Angeles boutique agency, Jaime launched Love Talent Agency, where she helps build actor careers through a hands-on, relationship-driven approach and a strong eye for emerging talent. In this episode, Jaime reveals what truly makes an actor bookable - from branding, training, and materials to likability, professionalism, and long-term strategy.

This episode is a masterclass in understanding how the industry actually sees you and what it takes to position yourself to win.

Words of the Week:  ALWAYS BE WORKING

Download this episode now and discover what happens after you press "submit." 

If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision and join us as we bring you the industry's leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, and filmmakers—sharing the real-world insights, experiences, and advice that can help take your career to the next level. Your support helps us continue creating these conversations.

Host Versa Manos welcomes Jaime Love, talent agent and owner of Love Talent Agency, a boutique agency representing talent across commercial, theatrical, print, and entertainment. Jaime began her career in Toronto, overseeing print campaigns and television commercials before transitioning into talent representation. Following years of working with major brands and high-profile talent like Demi Lovato, Mario Lopez and The Kardashians she returned to her true passion: developing talent careers. After co-founding a successful Los Angeles boutique agency, Jaime launched Love Talent Agency, where she helps build actor careers through a hands-on, relationship-driven approach and a strong eye for emerging talent. In this episode, Jaime reveals what truly makes an actor bookable - from branding, training, and materials to likability, professionalism, and long-term strategy.

This episode is a masterclass in understanding how the industry actually sees you and what it takes to position yourself to win.

Word of the week:  

Download this episode now and discover what happens after you press "submit." 

If you enjoy these conversations, subscribe to VersaVision wherever you listen to podcasts, and join us as we bring you the industry's leading casting directors, agents, managers, actors, and filmmakers—sharing the real-world insights, experiences, and advice that can help take your career to the next level. Your support helps us continue creating these conversations.